The Swiss Interbank Clearing (SIC) system, managed by SIX and overseen by the Swiss National Bank (SNB), is vital to Switzerland's financial system. SIC4 is the fourth generation of this real-time gross settlement (RTGS) system, launched to meet the evolving needs of the financial sector. It ensures that Swiss franc payments between banks are processed efficiently, securely, and reliably.

Did you know? Switzerland’s financial sector is one of the largest in the world, especially relative to GDP. It is home to two of the largest banks, which are designated as globally systemically important financial institutions (G-SIFIs), and one of the largest reinsurance companies.

SIC Processes Payments in Real-Time and Offers Liquidity Management

SIC continually processes payments in real-time, allowing participants to submit and receive transactions 24 hours a day. The system verifies the incoming payment orders using electronic signatures and master data checks to monitor whether the system participant is authenticated and authorized to enter data. Where sufficient funds are available, SIC settles the payment irrevocably and finally and debits or credits the participant's settlement account with the corresponding amount. System participants can constantly monitor incoming and outgoing payments in real-time and, by doing so, at any time obtain information about the current status of their settlement account.

SIC - Security, Compliance, Advantages and Limitations

High-Security Standards: SIC uses advanced security measures, including strong authentication and encryption, to protect against fraud and cyber threats.

Wide Participation: SIC connects a broad network of financial institutions in Switzerland, including major banks and the Swiss National Debt Office, facilitating seamless transactions across the country.

Compliance and Regulation: The system operates under strict regulatory standards set by the SNB, ensuring stability and reliability.

Business Use Case

Imagine Swiss Pharma needs to pay Zurich Logistics for a delivery of medical supplies. Here’s how it works with SIC:

1. Initiation: Swiss Pharma starts the payment through its bank, Bank A, using SIC.
2. Verification: Bank A checks the payment details and ensures Swiss Pharma has enough funds.
3. Real-Time Processing: SIC processes the payment immediately, transferring funds from Swiss Pharma’s account at Bank A to Zurich Logistics’ account at Bank B.
4. Settlement: The funds are instantly available in Zurich Logistics' account.
5. Confirmation: Both companies receive confirmation of the completed transaction, allowing Zurich Logistics to proceed with the delivery.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The SIC system offers several advantages, such as immediate settlement of transactions, which enhances liquidity and reduces counterparty risk. Its robust security measures protect against fraud and ensure the integrity of transactions, fostering trust among financial institutions and businesses. The system’s real-time updates and efficient liquidity management capabilities significantly improve the overall efficiency of financial operations, enabling participants to manage their funds more effectively and minimize the need for short-term borrowing.

However, the SIC system also presents some disadvantages. The high level of security and real-time processing capabilities come with significant operational costs, which may be higher than those of other non-RTGS systems. Additionally, participants must maintain sufficient funds in their settlement accounts to execute transactions, which can be challenging for institutions with fluctuating liquidity. Furthermore, the system's limited operating hours can restrict its utility for urgent transactions that need to be processed outside of regular business hours, a gap that the upcoming SIC5 aims to address.

Looking Ahead to SIC5

Switzerland is preparing to launch SIC5, which will provide instant payments 24/7. This new system will allow for even faster transactions, meeting the needs of businesses and individuals who require immediate payment capabilities any time of the day.

Curious to know the cost of sending supplier payments to Switzerland using local payment rails like SEPA and SIC through Finofo?

Check it out here – finofo.com/tools/send-money/switzerland